Manny Laureano

Principal Trumpet Manny Laureano, who joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 1981, has performed solos in all the Orchestra’s concert series and served as an assistant conductor during the 2005-06 season. In 2003 he premiered Stephen Paulus’ Concerto for Two Trumpets and Orchestra, which was written for him and Doc Severinsen, who was then the Orchestra’s principal pops conductor. His other solos with the Orchestra have included Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, Copland’s Quiet City, Clarke’s Southern Cross, Vizzutti’s Compadre, Hertel’s Concerto a cinque in D major, Bach’s Second Brandenburg Concerto, and concertos by Arutiunian and Tomasi.

Laureano is also in demand as a conductor. With his wife, Claudette, he serves as co-artistic director of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. In 2006 he led a series of Minnesota Orchestra Young People’s Concerts, ¡Viva Latino!

Laureano, a native New Yorker, began playing trumpet in the public school system and later studied with James Smith while at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Arts and with William Vacchiano of the New York Philharmonic. After graduating from the Juilliard School of Music, Laureano served as principal trumpet of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.